SANDERS ANNOUNCES for PRESIDENT!

NO not Sanders the blogger although he might be an improvement over some who will or are running!

No, it’s Senate Socialist Bernie Sanders (I call him affectionately Cousin Bernie).  Cousin Bernie is running for President in the Democrat primaries.  (See this prior post about Sanders as a Green Party candidate.  Dr. Jill Stein is breathing easier now…)

I admire Senator Sanders very much although he’s wrong on just about every issue:

Sanders, 73, has been openly considering a presidential bid for months, and in recent days has begun to focus his attention on staffing. Tad Devine, an informal adviser and longtime friend to the senator, has said that a Sanders campaign would focus heavily on three major issues — campaign finance reform, climate change and income inequality.

One issue he is not wrong about (although his reasons are somewhat different than mine) is the Trans-Pacific Partnership and his candidacy might help this cause.

His opposition to a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal (T.P.P.) shows how he plans to frame this key issue of his campaign.

“If you want to understand why the middle class in America is disappearing and why we have more wealth and income inequality in America than we have had since the late 1920s, you have to address the issue of trade,” Sanders said in a phone interview on April 23.

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“All of the major corporations want to continue with this trade policy. Wall Street wants to continue this trade policy. The drug companies want to continue this trade policy. But organizations representing American workers and the environment do not want to continue the trade policy. They want new trade policies,” he said.

Let’s hope the people listen to Cousin Bernie on this.  See my next post on the TPP.  But let me say two things about income inequality:  First, it is not the government’s business if incomes are unequal so long as there is freedom to enter the market and be successful.  Second, where’s the outrage at this:

Top 10  (Blogger’s note:  these are local officials in 2013)

1. Marcus J. Newsome – Chesterfield superintendent of schools – Base salary: $227,064 – Total salary: $279,564

2. James L. Stegmaier – Chesterfield county administrator – Base salary: $236,747 – Total salary: $257,247

3. John A. Vithoulkas – Henrico county manager – Base salary: $216,917 – Total salary: $254,759

4. Thomas J. Swartzwelder – King and Queen county administrator, county attorney, zoning administrator – Base salary: $238,500 – Total salary: $238,500

5. Sterling E. Rives III – Hanover county attorney – Base salary: $198,227 – Total salary: $232,827

6. Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. – Hanover county administrator – Base salary: $198,940 – Total salary: $221,540

7. Gary R. McLaren – Henrico economic development director – Base salary: $197,501 – Total salary: $221,149

8. John T. Grier – Director, internal equity management – Virginia Retirement System – Base salary: $258,145 – Total salary: $535,472

9. Allen Yee – Chesterfield physician – Base salary: $216,323 – Total salary: $216,323

10. Elmore W. “Will” Davis Jr. – Chesterfield economic development director – Base salary: $206,292 – Total salary: $213,792

All on the taxpayer’s dime and all probably earn more than then the Governor or the Chief Justice of Virginia.  And bus drivers earn about $10,000 or so (admittedly part time work with benefits) and cafeteria monitors earn about $7.50 an hour.  I say to Cousin Bernie and his liberal/socialist friends worried about income inequality:  Physician heal thyself!